PM Modi's special gift to Putin comes with a Tamil connection
During a significant meeting ahead of the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Modi gifted President Putin a translated version of the ancient Tamil text, Thirukkural, by Naira Mkrtchyan. Both leaders held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Brics summit being held in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, an ancient Tamil classic by poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, during their meeting in New Delhi. The translation, published in 2026 by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, aims to carry Thiruvalluvar's wisdom across languages and borders.
Modi highlighted this gesture on social media platform X, emphasizing the universal relevance of the Thirukkural's themes of ethics, governance, friendship, justice, and personal conduct. The meeting preceded the two-day Brics Summit, where Putin is visiting India for a three-day stay. The bilateral discussions, taking place at Bharat Mandapam, are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in defense, energy, trade, and civil nuclear power.
Defense is anticipated to be a significant area of engagement, with both sides exploring technological upgrades like the BrahMos missile system, while Russia remains committed to the S-400 air-defence system delivery and potential Su-57 fighter jet supply to India. Energy and nuclear cooperation are also on the agenda, as Russia looks to expand its involvement in India's civil nuclear program.
The PM's gesture of gifting Putin the Thirukkural underscores the symbolic connection between the two nations through the renowned Tamil literary work.
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